Manuscripts
Edwin F. Littlefield letter to Alvah Littlefield
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Edwin Littlefield letter to Alvah Littlefield
Manuscripts
Edwin Littlefield writes that he has arrived safely in San Francisco. He has received the cargo, and thinks it will be suitable for the current market, despite his opinion that "the majority of people here have left their honor & principles at home."
mssHM 4181
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Edwin F. Littlefield letter to Alvah Littlefield
Manuscripts
Littlefield writes of various business and cargo details, and reports there has been "considerable cholera" San Francisco.
mssHM 4184
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Albion C. Sweetser letter to Alvah Littlefield and A. Blood
Manuscripts
Mr. Sweetser writes to his business partners that he has heard nothing from them, and that he is working hard digging. He advises against sending goods to Sacramento to sell because of fluctuations in the market. Of the city itself, he writes "one year ago, this place was a wilderness and now it is liberally covered with buildings from 1 to 2 stories high." He hopes to be involved with the building of a new church in Sacramento.
mssHM 4165
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Albion C. Sweetser letter to Alvah Littlefield and A. Blood
Manuscripts
Albion Sweetser writes to his colleagues of planking being done in the city of Sacramento. He had thought of submitting a plan himself, but someone else got the job first. He has not yet sold the house, but there is someone interested. There will be an election for a new mayor on the 14th, as the previous one has passed away. Sweetser wishes to know if his colleagues would like him to sell out his store, but either way, he plans to stay in California.
mssHM 4183
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Albion C. Sweetser letters to Alvah Littlefield and A. Blood
Manuscripts
Albion C. Sweetser wrote these three letters to his business associates, A. Blood and Alvah Littlefield, while he was conducting business in Sacramento in 1850. In HM 4179, written October 28, Sweetser reports that he has been selling in his shop the herbs and other goods he was sent, but one of the boxes was damaged. Business has started to slow. He remarks that if he had been sent "the right kind of articles - say West India goods and provisions" such as shoes, business would be better, and suggests that such goods could still be sent in time for the "full trade" in the following August. Society in general, he reports, is much improving, despite the sickness of "colery" that has begun to spread. HM 4178, dated November 13, sees Sweetser still in good health, but the "colery" has gotten worse, causing many to flee from the city. He took his business to the mines and met with better success than in the city. HM 4180, dated November 27, also includes a small note in Sweetser's hand, apparently a postscript to the letter. Sweetser reports that there has been progress in the building of the church, and that the "colery" has faded, after claiming one out of every eight people in the city. In spite of this, he would be happy to stay in California on behalf of his partners, but he asks again to be sent provisions that are in demand rather than cheap jewelry and hairbrushes.
mssHM 4178-4180
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Albion C. Sweetser letter to Alvah Littlefield and A. Blood
Manuscripts
Mr. Sweetser writes of business dealings with Sacramento property, and how he has been advised to work the gold mines. He reports there was a local fire recently and that "all combustible property is not safe here."
mssHM 4163